Notification Timing: Sponsors Immediate, Free Users 24 Hours Later
Quick Answer
Sponsor accounts receive pro bono notifications immediately when cases are matched, while free accounts receive the same notifications 24 hours later. This timing difference gives sponsors exclusive first access to help community members, though the same 60-day expiration applies to all users regardless of when they're notified.
The 24-Hour Timeline
How Notification Timing Works
Hour 0: Case Approved
Heritage Web reviews and approves pro bono request
System matches to qualified professionals
Notifications prepared for distribution
Hours 0-24: Sponsor Exclusive Window
Only sponsor accounts receive notifications
Can view and accept cases immediately
No competition from free accounts
Unlimited acceptance capability
Hour 24: Free Account Access
Free accounts receive notifications
Can now see same opportunities
Limited to 3 acceptances per month
May find best cases already taken
Hours 24-1440 (Day 60): Open Access
Both account types can accept
Cases remain until expiration
First to accept gets the case
Why This System Exists
Value Proposition for Sponsors
Justifying $25/month:
First access to all opportunities
Choice of best-matched cases
No competition initially
Unlimited acceptance included
Clear return on investment
Encouraging Upgrades
The Reality for Free Accounts:
Always see opportunities second
High-impact cases often taken
Must act quickly when notified
Limited to just 3 per month
Ensuring Pro Bono Coverage
System Benefits:
Sponsors motivated to act quickly
Higher acceptance rate in first 24 hours
Community members get faster help
Sustainable program model
Impact on Pro Bono Availability
High-Demand Cases
What Happens in First 24 Hours:
Emergency situations: Accepted within 2-4 hours
Clear-cut cases: Taken within 6-8 hours
Standard cases: 12-24 hours
Complex cases: May remain available
By Hour 24 (When Free Accounts See Them):
30-50% already accepted (estimated)
Urgent cases mostly gone
Specialized cases may remain
Geographic outliers available
Case Types Most Affected
Quickly Accepted (Sponsors Take):
Immigration emergencies
Eviction defense
Domestic violence
Criminal defense
Child custody crises
Often Available After 24 Hours:
Document review
Non-urgent consultations
Specialized expertise
Rural locations
Language-specific needs
Strategic Implications
For Free Accounts
Maximizing Your 3 Monthly Accesses:
Act Immediately at Hour 24:
Set calendar reminder
Check dashboard right away
Quick evaluation process
Accept best matches fast
Focus Strategy:
Target specialized expertise areas
Look for language matches
Consider geographic advantages
Seek complex cases sponsors avoid
Reality Check:
Accept that best cases go to sponsors
Work with what's available
Consider upgrade if frustrated
Use strategically
For Sponsor Accounts
Maximizing the Advantage:
Daily Routine:
Check dashboard each morning
Review new opportunities immediately
Accept appropriate matches quickly
Don't wait unnecessarily
Competitive Edge:
No rush from free accounts
Time to evaluate properly
Can be selective
Build reputation first
The Psychology of Timing
Sponsor Behavior
Typical Pattern:
Morning: Check and accept cases
Afternoon: Follow up on morning accepts
Evening: Final check for day
Result: Most good cases taken
Free Account Frustration
Common Experience:
Receive notification excited
Click through to dashboard
Find best matches gone
Limited options remaining
Consider upgrade
Notification Delivery Methods
Email Notifications
Sponsors:
Immediate email when matched
Preview of opportunity
Link to dashboard
24-hour exclusive access
Free Accounts:
Same email format
Arrives 24 hours later
Same preview information
Often find opportunity taken
SMS Notifications (Sponsors Only)
Additional Advantage:
Instant text alerts
Even faster than email
Mobile convenience
Immediate action possible
Not Available to Free:
No SMS option
Email only
24-hour delay
Another sponsor benefit
Common Scenarios
Scenario 1: Immigration Emergency
Monday 9 AM: Client submits urgent request Monday 10 AM: Approved and matched Monday 10:01 AM: Sponsors notified Monday 11 AM: Sponsor attorney accepts Tuesday 10 AM: Free accounts see notification Result: Case already closed
Scenario 2: Rural Tax Help
Wednesday 2 PM: Rural client needs tax help Wednesday 3 PM: Approved and matched Wednesday 3:01 PM: Few sponsors match Thursday 3 PM: Free accounts notified Thursday 4 PM: Free account accepts Result: Free account gets opportunity
Scenario 3: Specialized Expertise
Friday 4 PM: Complex corporate pro bono Friday 5 PM: Matched to few professionals Friday 5:01 PM: Sponsors see but don't act Saturday 5 PM: Free accounts notified Monday 9 AM: Free specialist accepts Result: Patience pays off
Making the Upgrade Decision
When to Upgrade
Clear Indicators:
Frustrated by missing opportunities
Want to maximize impact
Have capacity for more than 3/month
Tired of seeing "already accepted"
Value community service
ROI Calculation
Free Account Reality:
3 cases per month maximum
See everything 24 hours late
Miss high-impact opportunities
Limited community service
Sponsor Investment:
$25/month or $240/year
Unlimited cases
24-hour priority
First choice always
Maximum impact possible
Managing Expectations
For Free Accounts
Realistic Expectations:
Will miss some great opportunities
Must act fast when notified
Focus on niche expertise
Accept timing limitation
Consider it starter access
For Sponsors
Maintaining Advantage:
Check dashboard regularly
Don't assume 24-hour buffer
Other sponsors competing
Act on good matches quickly
Value the investment
FAQs
Q: Do free accounts know sponsors saw cases first? A: The notification doesn't explicitly state this, but the 24-hour delay is systematic.
Q: Can free accounts ever see cases first? A: No. The 24-hour delay is automatic and cannot be bypassed without sponsoring.
Q: What if no sponsors match a case? A: Free accounts still wait 24 hours. The delay is based on account type, not matching.
Q: Does the 24-hour delay affect the 60-day expiration? A: No. All accounts have the same 60-day window; sponsors just get a head start.
Q: If I upgrade after seeing a notification, do I get priority? A: No. Priority only applies to future matches after upgrade is active.
Q: Are there exceptions for emergencies? A: No. The system applies the same timing rules regardless of urgency.
Next Steps
Evaluate your current access pattern
Calculate missed opportunities
Consider sponsor upgrade benefits
Set notification alerts
Develop response strategy
Maximize your account type advantages